The Ghana Navy has intercepted two wooden boats carrying an estimated 4.8 tonnes of suspected marijuana at Ada in the Greater Accra Region, foiling an alleged attempt to transport the illicit consignment through the Volta Lake corridor to Nigeria.
The seizure, involving 117 sacks of suspected narcotics with an estimated street value exceeding US$1 million, followed an intelligence-led operation by the Riverine Command of the Ghana Navy.
The operation was conducted at about 1:00 a.m. when naval personnel discovered the two wooden vessels concealed along the banks of the Volta Lake estuary, approximately 200 metres from the Talibet Bridge.
According to the Navy, the personnel moved in to intercept the vessels after acting on intelligence about the suspected drug shipment.
However, the individuals believed to be behind the operation abandoned the boats and fled after spotting the approaching naval patrol team.
A subsequent search of the vessels was conducted at about 5:00 a.m. in the presence of officials from the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC).
The search uncovered 117 sacks containing suspected marijuana. Preliminary estimates indicate that each sack contained approximately 80 packs, bringing the total estimated weight of the consignment to 4.8 tonnes.
The seized substances are estimated to have a street value of more than US$1 million.
The Ghana Navy says the interception forms part of intensified surveillance and monitoring operations aimed at preventing the country’s maritime corridors from being exploited by criminal networks involved in illicit drug trafficking.
Speaking on the operation, the Director of Operations of the Ghana Navy, Naval Captain Festus, reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to disrupting drug trafficking networks through intelligence gathering, surveillance and collaboration with relevant security agencies.
“The Ghana Navy will continue to intensify its surveillance and monitoring efforts to identify, track and disrupt these networks in collaboration with all other stakeholders to ensure that we rid this country’s maritime corridor of all illicit drug traffickers,” he said.
Suspects Remain at Large
The Navy indicated that the Ada interception was not the first operation targeting suspected drug trafficking activities along the Volta Lake corridor.
Although the suspects abandoned the vessels and remain at large, the Navy has warned individuals financing, sponsoring or otherwise facilitating drug trafficking activities that security agencies will sustain operations to dismantle such networks.
It has also urged members of the public to provide credible and actionable information to assist security agencies in safeguarding Ghana’s maritime domain.
The 117 sacks of suspected narcotics have since been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigations and necessary action.
By Joseph Armstrong Gold-Alorgbey
